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Before you bring your new puppy (or new dog) home, make sure you survey your home for potential dangers. Making your home safe for a puppy is similar to making your home safe for a child. Here are some tips:

• Make sure your house and yard are escape proof. You need high fences, locked gates and doors and no holes in or under fences.
• Keep all medications away from your dog, including off benches.
• Keep rubbish and compost secure.
• Swimming pools and stairs pose hazards especially to small pups. Dogs need to learn where steps are to get out of a pool.
• Pups need to be protected from falling from heights.
• Keep all bathrooms, kitchen, garden and pool chemicals away from pets.
• Electrical cords can be fatal to you and your pet if chewed. Keep them tucked away where your pet cannot reach them.
• Swallowed clothing and small objects may cause a dangerous intestinal blockage. Socks seem particularly attractive to some dogs.
• Baby grates are great to confine your dog to certain areas of the house.
• Finally walk around your property and look for other areas or items that could be a hazard to your puppy, such as broken glass, exposed nails, or other sharp objects.